If you need to end up with 1 final design concept, how many ideas do you generate to start?
If we want to end up with 1 final design concept, we want to have 3 reviews to collect and implement the client's feedback.
If we want 3 client reviews and we want to end up with 1 final design concept, then we want the second review to include 2 to 3 times the number of final design concepts, depending on how many choices the client can palette. (This first review will be of looser, initial design concepts.)
If we want that second review to include, 2-3 initial design concepts, then we want our first review to include about double that; 4-6 initial design concepts.
If we want to generate 4-6 initial design concepts, we'll ideate anywhere from 20 to 50 ideas at the start.
Disclaimer: These numbers are dependent on the complexity of the concepts. The more complex the product/concept, the lower the numbers; Not because they require more work, but because it's more overwhelming and requires more time for the client to review and pare down complex concepts than it does simple concepts. It's our job as designers to present only the strongest concepts and facilitate a productive review.
Does this math check out with your workflow?
Knack is the industrial design studio that packs pipelines with value-creating innovations.
We do so by supporting product innovation teams with new product concept creation & illustration.